Terminal strip device



NOV. 26, 1935. I 5 J. STOCKFLETH 2,022,059

' TERMINAL STRIP DEVICE Filed July 25, 1954 lNl ENTOR S. J. STOC/(FLETH y/W? I v ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TERllIINAL STRIP DEVICE Sigurd J. Stockfleth, to Bell Telephone Bloomingdale, N. J assignor Laboratories, Incorporated,

This invention relates to terminal strip devices and more particularly to a shield for use in protecting the terminals of such devices from dropped solder, wire clippings and dust.

The object of the invention is the provision of a shield of the character above described which will be simple, cheap to manufacture and convenient in use.

According to the invention a plate of insulating material is provided with means adjacent one of its edges for engaging the loop portions of brackets which are, in turn, secured to the terminal mounting. The loop portions of the brackets serve to guide the plate in a flatwise position over the ends of the terminals while permitting the movement of this plate to another position away from the terminals as to give access to these terminals for effecting soldered connection, the shield in its flatwise position over the terminals being effective to protect them from dust, dropped solder and wire clippings and thereby preventing the accidental bridging of these terminals.

Other features of the invention and advantages will appear from the following description and by the claims appended thereto, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a view of the shield shown in assembled position on the terminal strip with a portion of the shield cut away;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof showing the shield in dotted line in position as to uncover the terminal strip;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the shield bracket previous to forming its loop portion; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of the shield bracket in position on the terminal strip, its loop portion being shown with a portion cut away.

As shown in the several views of the drawing the plate I0 is of rectangular formation so as to follow the general grouping of the terminals '1 on the mounting and is made of any suitable insulating material. This plate is provided adjacent one of its longitudinal edges with eyelets I l and 12 provided for engaging the guiding portions l3 of two brackets l5 shown in developed formation in Fig. 3 and in looped formation in Figs. 1,

2, and 4.

As shown in Fig. 3 the bracket I5 is formed with lugs l6 and H for readily locating the bracket on the terminal strip, a slot M for receiving a fastening screw, such as l8, a slot l9, and a hook portion 20 at the other end of the guiding portion l3. The hook 20 is provided for engaging the slot l9 upon the bending of the guiding portion l3 into a loop as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, the free end of the guiding portion [3 being located between the foremost disposed element of the terminal strip and the fastening portion [5 of this bracket as best seen in Fig. 4 for eifectively holding this end in its locked position in the slot H).

In the use of this shield in connection with terminal strips the plate or shield I0 of each strip is manually moved on its supporting brackets l3 to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2; in which position it shields the terminals from dropped solder and wire clippings accidentally dropped by workmen while effecting other soldered connections. However, when the terminals T of a strip are to be soldered with the wires W the shield is moved on brackets l3 in position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 soas to permit access to the terminals and wires for affecting such soldered connections.

What is claimed is:

1. In a protecting shield for a terminal strip having a mounting and rows of terminals secured to the mounting of an insulating plate, a pair of brackets secured to said mounting having guiding elements, said plate having means for engaging said elements, said elements permitting rectilinear and rotary movements of said plate, whereby the plate may be moved over said terminals in a flatwise position for protecting them and to another position to permit access to these terminals for effecting soldered connections.

2. In a protecting shield for a terminal strip having a mounting and rows of terminals secured to the mounting, an insulating plate, a pair of brackets secured to the mounting, each of said brackets having a guiding and a securing portion, said plate having means for engaging the guiding portion of each of said'brackets, said guiding portion permitting rectilinear and rotary movements of said plate whereby said plate may be moved over the terminals to a flatwise position for protecting them, and to another position to permit access to these terminals for efiecting soldered connections, and a plurality of interfitting means formed with each of said brackets adapted to be held in engaged relation with respect to each other upon the securing of said brackets on the terminal strip.

SIGURD J. STOCKFLETH. 

